For James Officer, wearing the USA uniform is something he'll never forget.

Officer, a 2014 Cathedral High School graduate who will play for Indiana State's football team this fall, was a center on Team USA U19 football team.

"The feeling of playing for something with the letters USA across my chest was a incredible feeling," Officer in an email response to The Star. "It made me realize that I was representing much more than myself."

Officer was in Kuwait with the team for 16 days, playing four games in a span of 10 days in the International Federation of American Football Under-19 World Championship,. The U,S, team won games against Mexico, Japan and Germany before beating Canada 40-17 to win the gold medal last week. Canada had beaten the U.S. in the 2012 U19 championship.

"The experience living in Kuwait was a little different because we were there during Ramadan (a month of fasting for Muslims)," Officer said. "You can't eat or drink during the day in the month of Ramadan."

The team actually was able to eat and drink as long as it wasn't in public so they would eat in private at the hotel. The games and practice were held at night so they were able to drink water during those periods."

The 6-3, 275-pound Officer started on Cathedral's Class 5A state title team last season and was named to The Star's Super Team.